Concealable suspended surfaces

ABSTRACT

A table or surface which is suspended from a ceiling and fully retractable to be flush with or recessed in the ceiling that can be lowered to serve as the work surface, coffee table or other convenient table. The table is made from lightweight materials and can be raised or lowered using battery power. The circuitry for raising or lowering the table along with the motor and other mechanical elements and the means receiving a user may be located in the table or in a plate attached to the ceiling. When the table is fully raised it is concealed by using decorative means or by recessing it into the ceiling.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure generally relates to small, lightweight tables or other surfaces that can be attached to ceiling via cables, which tables can be retracted and hidden on the ceiling when not in use. The suspended tables of this invention may include all of the power, circuitry and other components necessary for easily retracting the table surface at the user's convenience.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The prior art to this application consists of large tables that can be suspended from a ceiling in various ways. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,844,428 shows a large conference room table which can be suspended from a ceiling and retracted when not in use. However, this prior art is directed to large tables that are merely lowered into position and depart from the present invention in numerous ways as described further herein. Other prior art including U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,862,764; 4,635,565; 6,202,361 and 7,228,669 all relate to large, hard-to-install large tables, that are not geared towards the idea of lightweight personal use table of adjustable height of the design of the present invention.

There are many circumstances where the tables of the prior art cannot be used. For example, these bulky and complex tables do not suffice the need for a convenience table that can descend to any height convenient to the user depending on the user's activity. For example, an individual watching TV while doing tasks on a personal computer may need a coffee table of a certain height, while an individual eating while watching TV may have another preferred height. Further, individuals in the family may be of different heights, weights, etc., so as the positioning of the table should be customizable for them. Still further, individuals do not want a large bulky table suspended over their couch in a conspicuous manner. A retractable convenience table that is easily attached to a ceiling, lightweight, fast to lower or raise and inexpensive are not shown in the prior art. Another environment where the tables of the prior art would not work is a hospital where a serving tray needs to be supported in front of a patient at an individualized height and should be easily retractable while the patient is not having a meal. Finally, the prior art lacks disclosure of a table that is easily movable by swiveling in a rotational manner as well as being able to move laterally when needed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide a lightweight, retractable table that is battery operated. Further, the tables disclosed herein optionally have all of the electronics, motor and battery in the table itself. Alternatively, these components can be provided in a unit mounted in or recessed in the ceiling.

The table disclosed herein and the hidden in the ceiling by using a recessed mount or by having decorative features on the bottom of the table that blend into the ceiling when retracted. For example, ceiling medallions are very popular in recent times. The table can be hidden in a ceiling medallion when in the upright position. Instead of a ceiling medallion a picture holder or mirror can be used to hide the table when it is brought up to the ceiling. Finally, the convenience tables of this invention may serve as a light fixture when fully raised to the ceiling. In one embodiment, a table to serve as a single cup holder is appears as a surface mount or recess light when raised. Such mini-table can be used a replacement for existing recess lighting. It can be an insert into existing recess lighting that screws into a socket and optionally has an added rim around the recess to attach to the ceiling 10 for added support.

The tables of the present invention can be controlled using a remote control or by providing sensitivity to sound (i.e., clapping or voice commands).

It is preferable that the tables of this invention weigh no more than 10 pounds and could be 5 pounds or less depending on the materials selected for the table, motor and battery. Further, all of the electric mechanical components when placed in the table or a ceiling mounted control unit should be contained in a housing of preferably no more than two inches in height and could be as small as one inch or less given current motor diameters.

The tables of this invention should become more ubiquitous than the tables of the prior art due to their easy installation, low cost, simple structure and versatility. They can be used at homes for laptop computers, food or drink; at hospitals for serving trays; in small apartments for extra space, and in restaurants to add a place for food items to be placed other than traditional tables.

Other objects and purposes of the invention will be apparent to persons familiar with this art upon reading the following specification and inspecting the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features and advantages of the present disclosure will be more fully understood with reference to the following, detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures, wherein:

FIGS. 1A-C are illustrations of the table in the down position;

FIGS. 2A-D are illustrations of the ceiling medallions or other decorative concealment methods for the tables; and

FIGS. 3A-C are an illustrative circuit diagram, mechanical structure for the table and one embodiment of a spindle for winding cables;

FIGS. 4A-B are illustrative diagrams showing the mounting of the table;

FIGS. 5A-B are illustrations of the swivel attachment and optional track system for the table or surface of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The table or surface of the present invention can be best understood with reference to the accompanying figures. FIG. 1 shows various embodiments of the table or surface 30 of the disclosed invention in the down position. The figure shows a ceiling 10 and table or surface 30. Attaching a table or surface 30 are cables 20. The cables are shown attached to the table with loop hooks but could be attached with knots or other means. The table 30 may be detachable. Optionally there is a plate 40 for attaching the cables to the ceiling 10. Such plate 40 also optionally may house components used to retract the table 30 if such a configuration is desired. Attaching the plate 40 or cables 20 to the ceiling 10 can be done with conventional means such as toggle bolts, screws with anchors or any other method that will support the weight of the table 30 and items to be placed on the table 30 in its anticipated used. Of course, if the plate 40 or cable 20 can be attached to a ceiling beam, simple screws can be used. The support means should be able to hold the weight of the table 30 itself and a laptop computer or food tray.

Table 30 should be made of a lightweight material such as plastic or a thin wood veneer. The table 30 also could be made structurally with lightweight metal mesh which could be covered with plastic or wood veneer and can be various sizes and shapes but preferably it is no larger than needed to put a laptop computer or food tray. It can be as small as a holder for a single cup as in FIG. 1C or smaller. It is possible that the table 30 is detachable and only the cables 20 move up and down, which may give more options for concealment on the ceiling 10.

The table 30 should be configured so that when it is retracted to the ceiling 10 that it mounts flush on the ceiling 10 as would a ceiling medallion. Optionally, the table 30 can be recessed in the ceiling 10 and have an exterior material that matches the common colors of interior sheetrock ceilings or dropped ceiling. Further, the bottom is preferable paintable. The bottom of the table 30 can have other decorative features such as mirrors, lights or an insert for photographs. When the table 30 is raised fully to the ceiling 10 it should merely be a decorative feature of the room rather than an obvious table.

The cables 20 can be of any materials sufficient to support the weight of the table 30. Cables 20 can be made of metal, thread, cord, rope or plastic materials. The cables 20 should be flexible so that they can wind onto one or more spindles as the table is raised or lowered. Certain fishing lines may operate as good cables since they are rated for various weights and are fairly thin and strong. If the battery is housed separately from the motor and other components used to raise and lower the table then a power cord may be included with or incorporated into one of the support cables.

In the preferred embodiment, the cables 20 are attached to plate 40 which then is secured to the ceiling 10 using conventional means such as toggle bolts. Of course, the cables 20 can be directly connected to the ceiling 10 to remove the need for plate 40. Further, the components necessary to raise and lower the table 30 and receive signals from the user can be housed in plate 40 or in table 30, or a combination thereof. Plate 40 and table 30 can be designed to mate together when the table 30 is raised or table 30 may go around plate 40 and have edges to go flush to ceiling 10. If all of the components are in the plate 40, the table may weigh less, even less than 1 pound. This would mean that smaller motors and batteries can be used to reduce the size of the plate to under one inch.

FIG. 2 shows samples of how the table may look from the bottom when it is fully raised to the ceiling 10 and flush with or recessed into the ceiling. FIG. 2D shows an optional light on the table bottom.

The electronic and mechanical components of the invention are illustrated in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3A, a battery 50 is used to provide power to raise and lower the table. It is preferred that this battery 50 be a rechargeable battery but consumable batteries or hard wired AC power could be used. RF receiver 60 is used to receive signals from a remote control (not shown) operated by the user. While RF signals are shown in the preferred embodiment any remote control type signal or sound signals could be used to operate the table 30. A hard wired wall switch also may be used but would raise installation issues. The remote control can be fairly simple having one button to raise the table 30 and one button to lower the table 30. Further, a single button remote control can be used where the direction of travel for the table 30 automatically changes when it reaches the fully raised or fully lowered position. Switch 70 is used to change the direction of the motor 80. Switch 70 may be separate from or part of the other components used to raise and lower the table 30. Motor 80 is preferably a low profile motor that is sufficiently strong to raise and lower the table. The motor 80 may be mounted so that its smallest dimension is vertical. There are many available motors of appropriate speed and torque that are made by companies such as Nidec, NSK, Piezo, Johnson Motors or other suppliers. Various styles of DC brushless motors or brush motors are available that have profiles under one inch and sufficient torque to raise or lower lightweight tables 30 of this invention. Further, such motors can be operated by rechargeable batteries using lithium ion, nickel metal hydride or other chemistries. The rechargeable batteries that can power tools, particularly small screwdrivers, are sufficiently powerful to raise and lower a table of ten pounds. A Skil iXO 4V Max Palm-Sized Screwdriver includes a sufficient battery and strong motor that may be ideal in the tables of this invention. Some of the Skil products include reversible motors and batteries weigh less than one pound with good power and speed.

In an embodiment, the device may warn the user when the battery power is low. For example, a beeping noise or flashing light can be used to alert the user to recharge the battery 50. If the battery is located in the table 30 recharging will be easier. However, if the battery 50 is located in the plate 40 for attaching the unit to the ceiling a power cord can be incorporated with or within one of the cables 20 so that charging can take place with the table 30 in its lowered position. Shown in FIG. 3B is an optional system of gears 90 can be used to connect to multiple spindles 100 if the motor is located in the center of the table 30 or the plate 40. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 3C, the motor 80 can have a single spindle 100 that is segregated into multiple sections to receive multiple cables 20 if these are necessary. Such spindle 100 may be driven directly from the motor 80 and guides and pulleys can position to cables 20 to the proper position relative to the table 30. Any systems of gears, spindles and pulleys needed to position the cables and pull them equally is within the spirit of this invention.

FIG. 4 shows that the table 30 and plate 40 can be flush mounted to the ceiling 10 or recessed into the ceiling 10 so installation of the table 30 or plate 40 is more complex but may provide a pleasing aesthetic to conceal the table 30.

FIG. 5A shows that the plate 40 can be mounted to a swivel 110 so that the table can be rotated. Swivel 110 can have three or four holes so that it can be directly connected to the ceiling 10. Further, as shown in FIG. 5B, this table 30 can be placed in a track 120 so that it can be moved sideways or fore and aft. Preferably the track system 120 is concealed by the table when it is in the raised position. Optionally the track system 120 includes extensions 130 which the swivel 110 can click into so that the track can be extended past where the table 30 would cover when fully retracted to the ceiling. The track system 120 can be attached directly to the ceiling 10 or a separate plate 40. When the track 120 is attached to the ceiling 10 it is, in effect, a plate 40. In use, For example, if one person in the bed is viewing a laptop computer they could move the table 30 sideways so that it is positioned in front of the person sitting next to them. If the person is sitting far enough, the swivel 110 would click into the extendable track and pull it out to distance so the weight still could be supported by the track 120. When the second user is done using the table 30 they would move it sideways towards the first user and the swivel 110 would click out of the extension 130 back to the track system 120. The tracks 120 can be made of any suitable material but preferably are a rigid and strong metal that can support the weight of the table 30 in its anticipated use.

Other features that may be added to the table 30 are attachments such as cup holders or cooling fans for a laptop computer that can clicked into place on the table 30 or in the table 30. Given the lightweight construction of the table 30 and the speed of available motors the table 30 should be able to go from a fully raised position to fully lowered position in a matter of seconds. Preferably this can be done in under five seconds. Optionally, the table 30 can have room lights or decorative lights installed in them so they can perform a dual function. Finally, when in the fully lowered position the table 30 may optionally have legs that support the table in the anticipated position. Such legs may have adjustable heights by having dual tube construction where the thumbnail screw on the outer tube can press against the inner tube to hold the table leg in the preferred height.

Now that the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described in detail, various modifications and improvements thereon will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art. The present embodiments are therefor to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims, and all changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A suspended table comprising, a plate for attachment to the ceiling, cables between the plate and a table, the table further comprising, a reversible motor, a remote control signal receiver, a switch for changing direction of the motor, and a battery.
 2. The suspended table of claim 1 further comprising, a motor that can raise or lower the table to its distal positions in 5 seconds or less.
 3. The suspended table of claim 1 further comprising, a decorative table bottom which conceals the table when raised.
 4. The suspended table of claim 1 further comprising, wherein the plate can be recessed in a ceiling.
 5. The suspended table of claim 1 further comprising, wherein the table is less than 10 pounds.
 6. The suspended table of claim 1 further comprising, wherein the table is less than 5 pounds.
 7. A suspended table comprising, a plate for attachment to the ceiling, cables between the plate and a table, the plate further comprising, a reversible motor, a remote control signal receiver, a switch for changing direction of the motor, and battery.
 8. The suspended table of claim 1 further comprising, a motor that can raise or lower the table to its distal positions in 5 seconds or less.
 9. The suspended table of claim 1 further comprising, a decorative table bottom which conceals the table when raised.
 10. The suspended table of claim 1 further comprising, wherein the plate can be recessed in a ceiling.
 11. The suspended table of claim 1 further comprising, wherein the table is less than 5 pounds.
 12. The suspended table of claim 1 further comprising, wherein the table is less than 2 pounds. 